Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) - Aquaya

ENTREPRENEURIAL STRATEGIES FOR
REACHING THE POOR WITH CLEAN
DRINKING WATER
Kevit Desai,
Chief Executive Officer
Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA)
Friday, 26 th June, 2009
Holiday Inn, Nairobi Kenya

Background
Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA)
was formed in 2003 as the umbrella body
of the Private Sector in Kenya
It represent over 250 Business
Membership Organizations (BMOs) from
different sectors of the Kenyan Economy
It creates a unified and single voice for
private sector so as to influence public
policy formulation favourable for economic
growth and wealth creation

KEPSA in Water Sector
KEPSA through its Water Sector Board has partnered with the Ministry
of Water and Irrigation under the Ministerial Stakeholder Forum to
address various issues affecting the sector and recommend solutions
on regular basis.
Water is one of the issues being addressed. We understand water is a
basic human right and should be affordable and accessible to all.
Lack of access to clean water is a big challenge that require our
concerted effort to manage. It seriously affects productivity in the rural
areas leading to poverty as community members are forced to spend
most of their time each day simply finding and transporting water
which in most cases is collected from drains, ditches or streams that
might be infected by pathogens and bacteria that causes severe
illness and death.
With few medical resources at their disposal, the poor are particularly
vulnerable to chronic illnesses that hinder their productivity, making
the escape from poverty even more difficult.
.

Private Sector role in provision of
clean water
The private sector can assist poor
communities though:-
1.Corporate Social Responsibility
Companies dedicate part of their profit to
provide water to community by- drilling
boreholes, building reservoirs, buying tanks,
pipes for water connection among other
community initiatives.

Private Sector role in provision of
clean water… cont
2. Initiating PPP Water Projects
Private sector partnering with government by
sharing the cost of building a water project in an
area. This may include the community raising part of
the total cost – especially through CDF kitty while
the private sector top up the rest.
Communities in these areas should be empowered
to participate in water campaign activities such as
handpump maintenance, revival of traditional water
sources, watershed development, recharging of
groundwater, roof rainwater harvesting, and so on.

Private Sector role in provision of
clean water…. Cont
3. Employment creation among the Youth
Partnering with community and government
where they initiate a water project and
leaving it to the youth to manage it. This will
make the project sustainable, water
accessible and affordable as well create
opportunities for the youth to earn a living.

Private Sector role in provision of
clean water… Cont.
4. Initiate Reforms
KEPSA continues to advocate for friendly policies
that will make to water to the poor accessible and
affordable.
Advocate to higher Budget allocation to the water
sector in order to increase water Supply.
Already KEPSA has nominated three
(3)representatives to a Committee to track
reforms as agreed during the second PM RT in
November, 2008- Kenya Water Industry
Association, Institute of Engineers of Kenya &
Kenya Alliance of Resident Association.

Conclusion
KEPSA will continue to support all initiatives
aimed at increasing wealth among Kenyans
and creation of opportunities among our
youth.

THANK YOU
Kenya Private Sector Alliance,
Shelter Afrique House,
2nd Floor, Mamlaka Road,
P.O Box 3556-00100,
Tel: 254-020-2730371/2,2727936,2727883,
Mobile:0720 340949/0735 99997.
www.kepsa.or.ke.
KEPSA:- In Pursuit of an Enabling Business Environment.